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No. 752,413. PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904.

' W. R. & R. PIE-II.

DOOR, GATE, aw.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 22, 1903. v

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- IRE NORFIXS PET No. 752,413. v PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904.

W. R. & R. PITT. DOOR, GATE, &0.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22; 1903.

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N0. 752,413; I PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904-.

W. a; & R; PITT. DO0R,GATE,&0.

APPLICATION FILED JULgY 22, 1903.

to MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: W Gigi/$035 QM; v M .ATToR EY No. 752413. PATENTED FEB, 16, 1904.

W. R. & R. PITT.

( DOOR, GATE, a

APPLICATION FILED ULY 22, mos.

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wnuassss: vN 0R3" hbaugmw 0 m ATTORNEY we no r UNiTED STATES WILLIAM it. PITT Aim RAFEORD PITT, on NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT 7 OFFICE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 752,413, dated February 16, 1904.

' Applic i n fiici my 22, i903. Sefia1,N0.166,54=6- on model.)

To v aZZ whomit may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM R, PITT and RAFFORD PITT, citizens of the United States, residingat NewRochelle, in the county of W'estchester and State of New York, have in, vented certain new and useful Improvements in Doors, Gates, and Like Structures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. I

The invention herein described constitutes an-improvement upon the invention shown and described in Letters Patent No, 731,407, granted to the said William R. Pitt June 16,- 1903, and relates to improved means for supportingswinging doors, gates, and similar. structures for guiding the; same when opening and closing and for bringing the same automatically to aclosed position when released after being opened. v

The objects of our invention are to provide a door pivoted on a vertical axis located in-- termediate between the vertical edges thereof which when pushed upon bytheuser to open. the same will require less space to swing in than if the door were pivoted at one of its vertical edges and to stop the door orgate in its closed position and maintain it there, at the sametime to have it free ornnlocked, so

' that it can be. readily swung open;

In general terms our invention comprises a swingingdoor pivotally suspended at a point between its vertical edges to a suspension device dependingfrom the door-frame or other elevated structure, the said suspension device and a wheeled carriage supporting the same, anelevated track for said carriage. extending transverse the doorway, and spring mechanism acting upon said carriage and tending to draw it back to the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed, in combination with a suitable horizontally-reciprocating device suitably mounted and engaging with a carrier pivoted to the inner edge of the door, and spring mechanism acting upon said reciprocating device and tending to restore it we position which normally holds the-door closed.

More particularly, our invention Comp ises a swinging door pivotally suspended on a vertical axis at a point in its upper edge and between its vertical edges to a suspension-spindle depending from and rigidly attached to a carriage supported in the door-frame orother elevated structure, the said door being adapted to swing in either direction upon such vertical axis, the said carriage having vertical and antifriction rollers and a spindle depend ing therefrom, an overhead track in the door.- frame or other elevated structure for said carriage extending transverse the doorway, and a springacting upon said carriage and tend ing to draw the same into the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed, in combination with horizontally-reciprocating' slidesprovided with suitable guides and engaging with carriers pivoted to the inner edge of the door and a spring acting upon each slide and tending to restore the door when opened to a closed position. a v

Our invention is fully ShOWIIill the accompanying drawings, in which similar figures refer to similar parts. Figure l in the drawings is a front elevation of a door embodying our improvement and shown as standing in full closed position. Fig. 2 is-a horizontal sectionalview 0f the same, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2 2, Fig. 1. In this view there-is also shown indotted lines several positions of the door other than the closed one. Fig. 3is

a vertical sectional view of the same, the plane ofthe section being indicatedwby theline 3 3 in Fig.2. 7 Fig. t isavertical sectional. view of the pivoted carriage and adjacent parts through the plane of the line 4 4 in .Fig. Fig. 5. is a plan view from above of the carriage and tracks on which the same runs, Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified form of reciprocating slide with the cooperating parts. Fig. fishows aplan view through the line 6 6-in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 shows a vertical sectional view through the line77inFigh6.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate, respectively, the side wall and the upper part ofthe door-frame. InFig. 1- a second door ispartiallyshown in order to indicate how the invention may be made to apply to doubledoors;

but this arrangement is not necessary, since would be completed by a vertical portion corresponding to the part along the wall 1 and constructed at the opposite side of the door therefrom.

4 is the door or gate, which is pivoted upon a vertical axis intermediate between the two edges of the door and dividing the door into two parts approximately equal in area.

5 is a carriage having vertical wheels or rollers 8 8, pivoted horizontally on the edges of the platform 57 of the carriage 5 and supported by and running on a track 13, formed in the upper part of the door-frame 2, said track having a slot 27 preferably extending the entire length of the top 2 of the doorframe. The carriage 5 also has horizontal antifriction-rollers arranged in pairs 6 6 and 7 7 which are pivoted vertically on the upper surface of the platform 57 of the carriage 5 in such relative positions that the wheels of each pair are respectively in loosecontact with opposite sides of the track 13, so that the antifriction-rollers may revolve freely as the carriage is moved along the tracks.

9 is a suspension-spindle .having its upper portion screw-threaded. The platform of the carriage 5 is pierced with an orifice through which the screw-threaded portion of the spindle 9 passes.

14 14 are set-nuts which prevent the spindle from unscrewing or turning. A socket 18 is formed in a recess 33 in the upper edge of the door at a point approximately midway between the two edges of the same, the socket 18 having a lining 59, of metal or other suitable material, which does not descend quite 1 to the bottom of the socket and which is recessed for lubrication.

The socket 18 is of such suitable diameter that the spindle 9 turns freely in the same, and the lower end of the spindle extending below the edge of thejlining of the socket is prevented from slipping out of the socket by a metal washer of a diameter nearly equal to that of the recess 33 and which takes against the lower edge of the lining of the socket, being held in place by a set-nut 11, screwed upon the lower end of the spindle 9 tightly enough to prevent any ver-.

tical motion of the spindle, but not so tightly. as to interfere with its free revolution. A spiral spring 15 of suitable tension is fastened at one end to the carriage 5 by a fixed pin 16 and extends along the track 13 in the top of the door-frame to or near that portion of the same which is over the outer edge of the door when the same is fully closed, where the spring 15 is fastened at its other end to the door-frame by a fixed pin 17. In Figs.

- 2 and 3 is shown an arrangement of parts located in the drawings at a point near the lower part of the door. A similar arrangement of parts is used at a point near the upper part of the door, as shown at 36 in Fig. 1, the details being substantially identical and therefore not being repeated in the drawings.

20 is ahorizontallyreciprocating slide moving on a guideway 21, formed in a suitable recess in the wall 1. This slide 20 engages with and is preferably rigidly attached to the carrier 58, which is pivoted to the inner edge of the door at 25. Back of the slide is a traveler 22, which moves freely on a horizontal rod 23, about which is arranged a spiral spring 19, one end of which is fixed at 26, while the other end is attached to the traveler 22. The traveler 22 has aprojection 28, which engages loosely with the end of the slide that is farthest from the spring. When the door is closed, the spring 19 is under very slight tension; but its tension is considerably increased whenever the slide 20 is moved in'the direction away from the pin 26, as will be understood from Fig. 2, wherein when the door 4: is swung from its full open position into the positions shown in dotted lines the slide 20 is carried along the guideway 21 to or toward the farther end thereof, and the spring 19 is stretched accordingly along the rod 23, as shown in dotted lines. When the spring 19 has been thus stretched and the door is released, it will tend to be drawn by the tension of the spring through the traveler 22 and the slide 20 back into closed position. The

door may be held in an open position by any suitable device.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings is shown such adevice, consisting of a hook 34, having its shank loosely attached to a staple in the side wall and engaging with a staple 35 on the outer edge of the door.

' The traveler or follower 22, which acts upon the slide 20, has a small projection 24:, which engages with the fixed pin 25, arranged within the recess in which the spring mechanism is mounted, and when the parts are in normal position and the door stands closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, the projection 2 1 is in engagement with the pin 25, so as to prevent the spring 19 from pulling upon the traveler.- In this way the door is normally maintained in a closed position, and the spring 19 serves with the spring 15, hereinbefore described, to re, store the door to its closed position when it is released.

As heretofore stated,an arrangement of parts similar to that just described, and shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, is placed at the upper portion of the door 1, as indicated at 36 in Fig. 1, where in a suitable recess in the side wall 1 are placed a slide having pivotal connection with the inner edge of the door, guideway, traveler, rod, spring, and other parts substantially identical in construction and functions with the corresponding parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3, except that the spring corresponding to the spring 19 in Figs. 2 and 3 acts in an opposite direction from the spring 19, having its fixed endfastened within the recess at the end opposite to that over the pin 26. The po sitions of the traveler and of the parts cooperating with it are also reversed. When the door is opened in the direction opposite to that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the inner edge of the door approaches the position occupied by the outer edge of-the door in Fig. 2, the spring 19 ceases to act on the door; but the corresponding spring at the upper part of the door comes into play, and its tension tends to pull the door back into its closed position. The reciprocating action of the springs and other parts just described is similar to that of like parts described in the said Letters Patent No. 731,407, granted to William R. Pitt, and will be fully understood by reference to the specification and drawings thereof. As stated, the spring also assists to pull the door back to a closed position, its tension being increased as the door is opened in either direction.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a modified form of the slides, springs, and other accompanying parts attached to or cooperating with the carrier 36, which is pivoted in a recess 56 in the edge of the door in a manner similar to the carrier 58. (Shown at in Fig. 2.) The arrangements of parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7 areintended to be placed near the upper part of the door substantially in the position indicated by parts 36 37, Fig. l. 7, 36 represents a carrier pivoted in arecess 56 in the edge of the door on a pivot having bearings 38 38*, said pivot carrying also an antifriction-roller 37*, which is in loose conwidth slightly greater than the width of the door, similarly to the recess shown in Fig. 2.

' The carrier 36 has an extension-arm 53, upon the under side of which is afiixed a carrierplate 39, upon which are pivoted antifriction- ,rollers 40 41, having washers 51 and pins 52.-

These rollers 40 41 are likewise in loose contact with the plate 57. Upon the upper side of the extension-arm 53 is an angle-iron 46, having three vertical members. 47 and 48 are horizontal rods fixed at either end of the recess 55. 42 and 43 are slides of such suitable diameter as to pass freely back and forth over the rods 47 48. These slides are provided with plates 44 45, which take against the edges of the upright members of the angleiron 46, the carrier-plate 44 taking against the central member and the member on one side, and the carrier-plate 45 taking against the member on the other side and the central member. 53 is a wooden stop suspended from the angle-iron 54, which forms the upper lining of the recess 55. The width of this stop is substantially of the depth of the ,recess and its length is such that the plates 44 45 strike against it when they are returned to the position shown in Fig. 6. 49 and 50 are alternating springs having each one end affixed to the respective ends of the recess and their other ends attached to the slides 4243. When- In Figs. 6 and the door stands normally in its closed position, the parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7 stand in the position as there shown. When the door is pushed. open, so that the inner edge recedes in the direction shown by the arrow marked B in Fig. 6, the edges of the angleiron 46 take against the plate 44 and move the slide 42 along the rod 47, drawing after it the free end of the spring 49, substantially in the manner of the spring 19 and accompanying devices shown in Fig. 2. Upon the return of the door to its closed position the plate 44 takes against the stop 53 and the slide 42 comes to rest. When the door is swung in the. opposite direction, the angle-iron 46 takes against the plate 45 and moves the slide 43 along the rod 48 in the direction of the arrow marked C, carrying with it the free end of the spring 50. The tension of this spring 50, as of the spring 49, tends to draw the door back to a closed position. The friction-rollers 40, 41, and 37 enable the carrier 36, the slides 42 43, and the cooperating parts to work more easily and with less friction. A similar arrangement of parts is used at the lower part of the door in the same manner as hereinbefore described with reference to the arrangement of parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or we may omit the bars 47 48, springs 49 50, slides 42 43, plates 44 45, and angle-iron 46 at the bottom of the door, retaining simply the carrier 36, extension-arm 53, and carrier-plate 39 and the antifriction-rollers 37, 40, and 41. The latter arrangement is the one which we prefer, as we find that the two alternating springs at the upper part of thedoor are sufficient with the overhead spring to restore the door to a closed position.

The general operation of the improved means of hanging, guiding, and closing adoor or gate as shown herein is very similar to the operation of the door described in the said former Letters Patent, No. 731,407, and need here only be referred to generally. The door being supported intermediate between its vertical edges, as already stated, the free or outer edge of the door when pushed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 describes a line in the horizontal, (indicated at 09,) which line makes a very sharp turn inwardly toward the side wall, owing to the fact that when the door is pushed open the inner edge of the door recedes rapidly from the position which itoccupies when the door is closed. The dottedline positions of the door shown in Fig. 2 are intermediate positions of the door when being swung open vand. the full-open position is shown as lying well in toward the side wall 1. In swinging the door open in the manner described the rapid recession-of the free edge of the door which the operator is soon to pass leaves him a free passage-way, andswinging the door in this manner requires comparatively little efiort. A similar action takes place when the door is opened in the contrary direction. As the door is pushed open the carriage 5travels along the track 13 in a straight line toward the side wall 1, while the spindle 9 turns freely in the socket 18 as the angle of the door to the door-frame changes. When the door is fully open, the carriage stops .immediately over the side of the door-frame nearest the side wall 1.

In order to prevent the door being pushed or blown out of a vertical plane and to insure the smooth working of our invention, we preferably employ upon the lower edge of the door a guide-roller 30, pivoted on the spindle 29, which is rigidly attached to the lower edge of the door. In the floor in the plane of the door when closed is a guide-channel 31, having in its upper surface a slot 32, which slot 32 is of such width that the spindle 29 moves freely along it, while the guide-roller 30, whose diameter is preferably larger than the width of the slot, is in loose contact with the sides of the guide-channel 31, so that as the door is opened the roller 30,which turns freely against the sides of the guide-channel 31, enables the spindle to move freely along the side of the slot without friction. The axes of the spindle 29 and of the spindle 9 are in the same vertical lines, as are also the pivotal axes of the pivot-joints 25 and 37. 1

Our improvements while here shown as applied to a swinging door are not necessarily limited to that application, as they may be employed in connection with a gate, shutter, or similar structure. This particular form of swinging door will be found especially useful in places where but little space is available for placing a swinging door, and it will be noted from Fig. 2in particular that the sweep of the free edge of the door is confined to a space which is quite narrow when compared to the whole width of the door.

We have described the invention as applied to a single door; but by duplicating the construction described withreference to a single door and placing it in proper position a double swinging door may be provided, as indicated in Fig. 1. In the construction of a door as supported and guided substantially in the manner herein described another advantage is found in that the wind-pressure on the door is practically balanced, so that there is no liability of the door being blown open by the wind. In fact, the pressure of the wind, which is substantially equal upon each portion of the door lying on either side of the-intermediate vertical axis, will assist in the opening movement of the door, since one edge thereof moves in the direction that the wind does, and afte'f the initial movement occurs the wind-pressure will become unbalanced, as the wind will be diverted toward the receding edge of the door. Moreover, when the door is arranged so that it can be swung only in one direction from its closed positionthat is, a door which has to be pulled upon to open it fromone side and suitable equivalents for certain of the parts can be used without affecting the general operation of our invention. For example, pieces of sheet-iron bent into the required shape may 1 be substituted for the angle-iron 46.

We do not broadly claim a door suspended from a carriage supported in a door-frame or other elevated structure and having its inner edge pivotally connected with a device which engages with a guide attached to the side wall,

as we are aware that doors so constructed have been used before.

What we do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A swinging door pivotally suspended at a point between its vertical edges to a suspension device depending from the door-frame or other elevated structure; the said suspension device and a wheeled carriage supporting the same; an elevated track for said carriage extending transverse the doorway, and spring mechanism acting upon said carriage and tending to draw it back to the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed; in

combination with a suitable horizontally-reciprocating device suitably mounted and engaging with a carrierpivoted to the inner edge of the door, and spring mechanism acting upon said reciprocating device and tending to restore it to a position which normally holds the door closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A swinging door pivotally suspended at a point in its upper edge and between its vertical edges to a suspension device depending from the door-frame or other elevated structure; the said suspension device, and, supporting the same, a carriage having vertical and horizontal antifriction rollers; an elevated track for said carriage extending transverse the doorway, and spring mechanism acting upon said carriage and tending to draw it back to the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed; in combination with suitably-mounted horizontally-reciprocating slides engaging with a carrier pivoted to the inner edge of the door, andsprings acting upon the said slides in opposite directions and tending to restore them to a position which normally holds the door closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A swinging door pivotally suspended on a vertical axis at a point in its upper edge and between its vertical edges to a suspension-spindle depending from and rigidly attached to a carriage supported in the door-frame or other elevated structure, the said door being adapted to swing in either direction upon such vertical axis; the carriage having vertical and hor1- zontal antifriction-rollers and the spindle depending therefrom; an overhead track in the door-frame or other, elevated structure for said carriage extending transverse the doorway, and spring mechanism acting upon said carriage and tending to draw the same into the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed; in combination with an upper and lower horizontally-redprocating slide provided with a suitable guide and pivoted to the inner edge of the door, and a spring acting upon each slide and tending to restore the door when opened to a closed position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A swinging door pivotally suspended on a vertical axis at a point in its upper edge and between its vertical edges to a suspension-spindle depending from and rigidly attached to a carriage supported in the door-frame or other elevated structure, the said door being adapted to swing in either direction upon such .ver-

tical axis; the carriage having vertical and horizontal antifriction-rollers andthe spindle depending therefrom; an overhead track in the door-frame or other elevated structure for said carriageextending transverse the doorway, and a spring acting upon said carriage and tending to draw the same into the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed; in combination with an upperand lower horizontallyreciprocating slide each provided with a suitable guide and pivoted to the inner edge of the door, a spring acting upon each slide and tending to restore the door when opened to a closed position, an antifriction-roller pivoted on a spindle depending from the lower edge of the door, and a guide-channel in the floor through which such friction-roller moves, the axis of said spindle being in the same vertical line with the axis of the suspension-spindle which supports the door, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A swinging door, comprising one or more substantially solid panels practically closing the doorway, pivotally suspended at a point in its upper edge and approximately midway between its vertical edges to a suspensionspindle depending from and rigidly attached to a carriage supported by the door-frame or other overhead structure, whereby the windpressure on the said door tends to balance itself when the door is closed; the carriage having vertical and horizontal antifriction rollers and the spindle depending therefrom; an overhead track in the door-frame or other elevated structure for said carriage extending transverse the doorway; and a spring acting upon said carriage and tending to draw the same into the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed; in combination with an upper and lower horizontally-reciprocating slide each provided with a suitable guide and pivoted to the inner edge of the door, a spring acting upon each slide and tending to restore the door when opened to a closed position, a friction-roller pivoted on a spindle depending from the lower edge of the door, and a guide-channel in the floor through which such friction-roller moves, the axis of said spindle being in the same vertical line with the axis of the suspension-spindle which supports the door, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 7

6. A swinging door pivotally suspended on a vertical axis at a point in its upper edge and between its vertical edges to a suspension ,spindle depending from and rigidly attached to a carriage supported in the door-frame or other elevated structure, the said door being adapted to swing in either direction upon such vertical axis; the carriage having vertical and horizontal antifriction-rollers and the spindle depending therefrom; an overhead track in the door-frame or other elevated structurevfor said carriage extending transverse the doorway, and-a spring acting upon said carriage and tending to draw the same into the position which it normally occupies when the door is closed; in combination with reciprocating slides provided with suitable fixed guides and with suitable devices for engaging with a carrier pivoted in a recess in the vertical inner edge of the door, the said carrier provided with means for engaging with the slides and carrying horizontal antifriction-rollers, a spring acting upon each slide and tending to restore the door when opened to a closed position, an antifrictionroller pivoted on a spindle depending from the lower edge of the door, and a guide-channel in the floor through which such frictionroller moves, the axis of said spindle being in the same vertical line with the axis of the suspension-spindle which supports the door, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

WVILLIAM R. PITT. RAFFORD PITT.

Witnesses:

H. M. CooMEs, WALTER P. Hess. 

